art of war-第21章
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dispersed in every direction。 After that； the unfortunate man
committed suicide by cutting his throat。＇
When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too
weak； the result is COLLAPSE。
＇Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃The officers are energetic and want to
press on； the common soldiers are feeble and suddenly collapse。〃＇
17。 When the higher officers are angry and insubordinate；
and on meeting the enemy give battle on their own account from a
feeling of resentment； before the commander…in…chief can tell
whether or no he is in a position to fight； the result is RUIN。
＇Wang Hsi‘s note is： 〃This means； the general is angry
without cause； and at the same time does not appreciate the
ability of his subordinate officers； thus he arouses fierce
resentment and brings an avalanche of ruin upon his head。〃＇
18。 When the general is weak and without authority； when
his orders are not clear and distinct；
＇Wei Liao Tzu （ch。 4） says： 〃If the commander gives his
orders with decision； the soldiers will not wait to hear them
twice； if his moves are made without vacillation； the soldiers
will not be in two minds about doing their duty。〃 General Baden…
Powell says； italicizing the words： 〃The secret of getting
successful work out of your trained men lies in one nutshellin
the clearness of the instructions they receive。〃 ＇3＇ Cf。 also
Wu Tzu ch。 3： 〃the most fatal defect in a military leader is
difference； the worst calamities that befall an army arise from
hesitation。〃＇
when there are no fixes duties assigned to officers and men；
＇Tu Mu says： 〃Neither officers nor men have any regular
routine。〃＇
and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner； the
result is utter DISORGANIZATION。
19。 When a general； unable to estimate the enemy's
strength； allows an inferior force to engage a larger one； or
hurls a weak detachment against a powerful one； and neglects to
place picked soldiers in the front rank； the result must be ROUT。
＇Chang Yu paraphrases the latter part of the sentence and
continues： 〃Whenever there is fighting to be done； the keenest
spirits should be appointed to serve in the front ranks； both in
order to strengthen the resolution of our own men and to
demoralize the enemy。〃 Cf。 the primi ordines of Caesar （〃De
Bello Gallico；〃 V。 28； 44； et al。）。＇
20。 These are six ways of courting defeat； which must be
carefully noted by the general who has attained a responsible
post。
＇See supra； ss。 13。＇
21。 The natural formation of the country is the soldier's
best ally；
＇Ch‘en Hao says： 〃The advantages of weather and season are
not equal to those connected with ground。〃＇
but a power of estimating the adversary； of controlling the
forces of victory； and of shrewdly calculating difficulties；
dangers and distances； constitutes the test of a great general。
22。 He who knows these things； and in fighting puts his
knowledge into practice； will win his battles。 He who knows them
not； nor practices them； will surely be defeated。
23。 If fighting is sure to result in victory； then you must
fight； even though the ruler forbid it； if fighting will not
result in victory； then you must not fight even at the ruler's
bidding。
＇Cf。 VIII。 ss。 3 fin。 Huang Shih…kung of the Ch‘in dynasty；
who is said to have been the patron of Chang Liang and to have
written the SAN LUEH； has these words attributed to him： 〃The
responsibility of setting an army in motion must devolve on the
general alone； if advance and retreat are controlled from the
Palace； brilliant results will hardly be achieved。 Hence the
god…like ruler and the enlightened monarch are content to play a
humble part in furthering their country's cause ＇lit。； kneel down
to push the chariot wheel＇。〃 This means that 〃in matters lying
outside the zenana； the decision of the military commander must
be absolute。〃 Chang Yu also quote the saying： 〃Decrees from the
Son of Heaven do not penetrate the walls of a camp。〃＇
24。 The general who advances without coveting fame and
retreats without fearing disgrace；
＇It was Wellington； I think； who said that the hardest thing
of all for a soldier is to retreat。＇
whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service
for his sovereign； is the jewel of the kingdom。
＇A noble presentiment； in few words； of the Chinese 〃happy
warrior。〃 Such a man； says Ho Shih； 〃even if he had to suffer
punishment； would not regret his conduct。〃＇
25。 Regard your soldiers as your children； and they will
follow you into the deepest valleys； look upon them as your own
beloved sons； and they will stand by you even unto death。
＇Cf。 I。 ss。 6。 In this connection； Tu Mu draws for us an
engaging picture of the famous general Wu Ch‘i； from whose
treatise on war I have frequently had occasion to quote： 〃He
wore the same clothes and ate the same food as the meanest of his
soldiers； refused to have either a horse to ride or a mat to
sleep on； carried his own surplus rations wrapped in a parcel；
and shared every hardship with his men。 One of his soldiers was
suffering from an abscess； and Wu Ch‘i himself sucked out the
virus。 The soldier's mother； hearing this； began wailing and
lamenting。 Somebody asked her； saying： 'Why do you cry？ Your
son is only a common soldier； and yet the commander…in…chief
himself has sucked the poison from his sore。' The woman replied；
'Many years ago； Lord Wu performed a similar service for my
husband； who never left him afterwards； and finally met his death
at the hands of the enemy。 And now that he has done the same for
my son； he too will fall fighting I know not where。'〃 Li Ch‘uan
mentions the Viscount of Ch‘u； who invaded the small state of
Hsiao during the winter。 The Duke of Shen said to him： 〃Many of
the soldiers are suffering severely from the cold。〃 So he made a
round of the whole army； comforting and encouraging the men； and
straightway they felt as if they were clothed in garments lined
with floss silk。＇
26。 If； however； you are indulgent； but unable to make your
authority felt； kind…hearted； but unable to enforce your
commands； and incapable； moreover； of quelling disorder： then
your soldiers must be likened to spoilt children； they are
useless for any practical purpose。
＇Li Ching once said that if you could make your soldiers
afraid of you； they would not be afraid of the enemy。 Tu Mu
recalls an instance of stern military discipline which occurred
in 219 A。D。； when Lu Meng was occupying the town of Chiang…ling。
He had given stringent orders to his army not to molest the
inhabitants nor take anything from them by force。 Nevertheless；
a certain officer serving under his banner； who happened to be a
fellow…townsman； ventured to appropriate a bamboo hat belonging
to one of the people； in order to wear it over his regulation
helmet as a protection against the rain。 Lu Meng considered that
the fact of his being also a native of Ju…nan should not be
allowed to palliate a clear breach of discipline； and accordingly
he ordered his summary execution； the tears rolling down his
face； however； as he did so。 This act of severity filled the
army with wholesome awe； and from that time forth even articles
dropped in the highway were not picked up。＇
27。 If we know that our own men are in a condition to
attack； but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack； we
have gone only halfway towards victory。
＇That is； Ts‘ao Kung says； 〃the issue in this case is
uncertain。〃＇
28。 If we know that the enemy is open to attack； but are
unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack； we
have gone only halfway towards victory。
＇Cf。 III。 ss。 13 （1）。＇
29。 If we know that the enemy is open to attack； and also
know that our men are in a condition to attack； but are unaware
that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable； we
have still gone only halfway towards victory。
30。 Hence the experienced soldier； once in motion； is never
bewildered； once he has broken camp； he is never at a loss。
＇The reason being； according to Tu Mu； that he has taken his
measures so thoroughly as to ensure victory beforehand。 〃He does
not move recklessly；〃 says Chang Yu； 〃so that when he does move；
he makes no mistakes。〃＇
31。 Hence the saying： If you know the enemy and know
yourself； your victory will not stand in doubt； if you know
Heaven and know Earth； you may make your victory complete。
＇Li Ch‘uan sums up as follows： 〃Given a knowledge of three
thingsthe affairs of men； the seasons of heaven and the natural
advantages of earth； victory will invariably crown your
battles。〃＇
＇1＇ See 〃Pensees de Napoleon 1er；〃 no。 47。
＇2＇ 〃The Science of War；〃 chap。 2。
＇3＇ 〃Aids to Scouting；〃 p。 xii。
…
XI。 THE NINE SITUATIONS
1。 Sun Tzu said： The art of war recognizes nine varieties
of ground： （1） Dispersive ground； （2） facile ground； （3）
contentious ground； （4） open ground； （5） ground of intersecting
highways； （6） serious ground； （7） difficult ground； （8） hemmed…in
ground； （9） desperate ground。
2。 When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory； it is
dispersive ground。
＇So called because the soldiers； being near to their homes
and anxious to see their wives and children； are likely to seize
the opportunity afforded by a battle and scatter in every
direction。 〃In their advance；〃 observes Tu Mu； 〃they will lack
the valor of desperation； and when they retreat； they will find
harbors of refuge。〃＇
3。 When he has penetrated into hostile territory； but to no
great distance； it is facile ground。
＇Li Ch‘uan and Ho Shih say 〃because of the facility for
retreating；〃 and the other commentators give similar
explanations。 Tu Mu remarks： 〃When your army has crossed the
border； you should burn your boats and bridges； in order to make
it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home。〃＇
4。 Ground the possession of which imports great advantage
to either side； is contentious ground。
＇Tu Mu defines the ground as ground 〃to be contended for。〃
Ts‘ao Kung says： 〃ground on which the few and the weak can
defeat the many and the strong；〃 such as 〃the neck of a pass；〃
instanced by Li Ch‘uan。 Thus； Thermopylae was of this
classification because the possession of it； even for a few days
only； meant holding the entire invading army in check and thus
gaining invaluable t
